Of course, a careful driver is far less likely to get into a crash than a careless one. But when cars or their parts don’t work right, even the most careful driver can get into a bad accident. For example, a tire blowout at high speed can cause a rollover accident even in normal driving, with catastrophic results. In other cases, the failure of an automobile or its parts can make a wreck worse — such as when a seatbelt fails at a crucial moment. Our Missouri auto product liability lawyers represent clients hurt through no fault of their own by a faulty car or part.

When auto parts fail, it’s the manufacturer who’s legally and ethically responsible. Motor vehicles are consumer products just like toys and appliances, and all manufacturers have a legal responsibility to offer products that are safe to use and free of defects. They also have to warn consumers about serious safety risks of using the product. Because of these rules, automobiles and their parts are routinely recalled. The federal government listed a total of 43 recalls of automobiles and equipment in October of 2011 alone. Manufacturers are required to do repair or replacement work on recalled vehicles for free — but not everyone gets the message in time to avoid a serious accident.

Auto product failure cases are rare — but when they happen, they’re so serious that they’re frequently big news. In the late 1990s, you may remember that millions of Bridgestone/Firestone tires were recalled after a rash of accidents believed to have been caused by their flaws. The tires had tread (the part that touches the road) that would literally separate under certain ordinary driving conditions, causing a blowout that could spin the vehicle around or overturn it, causing a crash.

More recently, there were multiple recalls of late-model Toyota and Lexus vehicles after reports soared that they sometimes accelerated with no command from the driver, putting everyone inside at risk of a high-speed crash. Though Toyota’s official explanation was a “sticky” gas pedal, some safety experts still believe there’s a flaw in the manufacturer’s electronic throttle. And here in Missouri, a 2009 Missouri Supreme Court ruling gave new life to arguments that fuel tanks in Ford Crown Victorias — the car used most often as a police vehicle — create an unreasonable risk of fuel-fed fires.

The Missouri auto product liability lawyers at the Bradley Law Firm represent clients seeking justice after crashes caused or worsened by:

• Defective seatbelts
• Child safety car seat failure
• Tire tread separation and other tire defects
• Defective seat backs that fall backward in a crash, pushing the headrest into the back seat
• An unreasonable tendency to roll over, which is particularly likely in SUVs, pickups and 15-passenger vans
• Weak vehicle roofs that are crushed on impact and fail to protect occupants
• Bad fuel tank placement or reinforcement leading to fuel fires
• Airbag failure or “oversensitive” airbags
• Door latch failure

If you believe your crash, or a family member’s crash, was caused or worsened by a malfunctioning auto part, call the Bradley Law Firm today to discuss how we can help. Like all car wrecks, crashes caused by vehicle defects can be life-altering, causing unexpected deaths or serious, permanent disabilities. In addition to the physical pain and emotional anguish of these injuries, families also frequently find themselves with staggeringly high medical bills. Serious injuries require serious treatment, and even with insurance, the costs can add up quickly. Add that to the cost of not working while recovering from a catastrophic injury, and the bills can be overwhelming for ordinary families. Our experienced Missouri auto product liability lawyers can help victims pass those costs back on to the company that sold them an unsafe, defective car or car part.

Based in St. Louis, the Bradley Law Firm offers free consultations to all potential clients. To set one up and learn more about us, call us today at 1-800-360-5072 or send us an email.